General
Lagos Lauds BATN Foundation’s Support for Aquaculture
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has been applauded for supporting aquaculture and fish farmers in Lagos State.
Recently, the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority (LSADA) held a two-week capacity building workshop on breeding, production, processing and marketing of catfish.
The annual project called Fingerlings to Fork was organised by LSADA in partnership with BATN Foundation.
The project, which is in its third cycle, has supported 600 smallholder fish farmers across all zones in Lagos State and also empowered three cooperatives with 250kg smoking kiln each.
Speaking at the training, the Commissioner for Agriculture in Lagos State, Mrs Abisola Olusanya, commended BATN Foundation for its involvement in the fish value chain of LSADA, notably through its annual partnership to drive sustainable agriculture development in the state.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Project Manager at LSADA, Dr Olamilekan Pereira-Sheteolu, described the completion of the workshop as a huge achievement for the agency, appealing to other well-meaning members of the private sector to support the programme.
Speaking through the Director of External Services, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Ayoade Abiola Olatokunbo, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Hakeem Adeniji, said the collaboration between the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and the BATN Foundation is always a fruitful one, which has seen both parties working towards the same goal of ensuring food security, agricultural sustainability and women empowerment.
“Lagos State government produces only 20 per cent of its food demand, leaving 80 per cent to be imported from other states of the federation. The government is making concerted efforts to boost food production from 20 per cent to 40 per cent.
“As an aquatic state, the state is particularly interested in the fish subsector as it generates income for artisanal fishermen and has potential for business opportunities. This includes breeding of fingerlings and juveniles, processing and packaging of fish for exports, input supply, etc,” he added.
Speaking further, he expressed appreciation to BATN Foundation for initiating the intervention which he said is expected to empower farmers and beneficiaries of the training with a view to improving their production.
Representing the General Manager of BATN Foundation, Ololade Johnson-Agiri, the Project Manager, Dare Odusanya, in his address, said that the partnership between LSADA and BATN Foundation is intended to ensure that smallholder farmers transition from subsistence to commercial farming, adding that the organisation believes in the wealth-creating opportunities in agriculture and is committed to promoting sustainable agribusiness development amongst smallholder farmers.
A significant feature of this year’s workshop was the participation of persons living with disability most of whom are hard of hearing.
Some of the beneficiaries of the workshop expressed delight about the training and particularly the new knowledge they acquired on catfish drying and smoking.
One of them, Mrs Cecilia Omoagbor, said that she was “glad to realize how economically viable catfish smoking is,” noting that, it is another stream of income in catfish farming, which is not time-consuming.
Another physically challenged beneficiary, Mr Oluseyi Moses, a farmer from Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA, Lagos, promised to share the knowledge acquired with youth farmers in his community.
By Adedapo Adesanya
This appeal was contained in a statement by ALTON Chairman, Mr Gbenga Adebayo, and the Publicity Secretary, Mr Damian Udeh, in Lagos, which warned that these criminal acts posed a serious threat to the stability of national communication systems.
He explained that despite ongoing investment in network upgrades, the vandalism was severely disrupting services and setting back progress.
“We are seeing a troubling rise in the destruction and theft of infrastructure, which supports our digital economy, security systems, and national communication grid,” he said.
It noted that between May and July 2025, vandalism incidents affected telecoms sites in Rivers, Ogun, Osun, Imo, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory.
“These criminal acts have caused widespread blackouts, disrupted services, and negatively affected millions of telecoms users across Nigeria,” Mr Adebayo added.
Some stolen items include power cables, rectifiers, fibre optic cables, diesel generators, batteries, and solar power systems.
Mr Adebayo pointed out that telecoms infrastructure is classified as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), according to Gazette No. 133, Volume 108, dated March 17, 2021.
He said vandalism, sabotage, and illegal handling of such infrastructure are grave offences under national security laws.
Mr Adebayo also expressed concern about the growing market for stolen telecoms components across the country, urging “the public to stay alert and avoid buying questionable items,” and warning that, “Buying stolen goods makes one an accomplice in the crime.”
He also highlighted the damage being done to underground fibre cables during road construction, which causes major outages and financial losses.
Mr Adebayo also called on top security bodies including ONSA, the Inspector General of Police, and the DSS Director General to act swiftly.
The association praised the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for launching a reporting platform via [email protected] or the number 622.
“This is an urgent national emergency. The industry cannot fight this alone,” Adebayo stressed.
He called for united action from all stakeholders — security forces, governments, regulators, media, civil society, and citizens.
“Our national security and digital future are at stake. The time for action is now,” he said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Mayor of London, Mr Sadiq Khan, has called for the deepening of UK-Nigeria ties across critical sectors like technology, creatives and trade, following a just-concluded visit to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub.
This visit marked the first official trip by a sitting Mayor of London to sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring London’s commitment to building long-term, cross-sector partnerships that support inclusive growth, digital transformation, and cultural exchange.
According to a new release, the UK government said the visit marked the growing importance of Nigeria as a key partner in the UK’s global trade and investment strategy, particularly in sectors such as fintech, innovation, and the creative economy, and the global influence of two dynamic cities – London and Lagos.
Alongside the visit, the Mayor of London led a trade delegation of 27 London-based companies in fintech, enterprise technology, and sustainability, supported by the Mayor’s growth agency, London & Partners.
“I am delighted to be visiting Nigeria and Africa this week – the first visit of its kind by a Mayor of London – to bang the drum for the capital and further develop the strong ties between our countries.
“Africa has the world’s fastest-growing population and is seeing major economic growth across many of its economies. Over the next decade, there are huge opportunities to deepen partnerships with London. I will be working tirelessly throughout this visit to drive trade and investment across critical sectors including finance, education, health, tech, creative and sustainability,” he said.
“Londoners of African heritage have played, and continue to play, a huge role in making London the greatest city in the world, and this trip is an opportunity to celebrate our shared heritage, history and culture with the African continent – as we build a better and fairer city for everyone,” he added
Under the leadership of Mr Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, the agency facilitated a series of high-level engagements in Nigeria. The delegation connected with Nigerian policymakers, investors, and creatives through curated events aimed at fostering collaboration and unlocking new business opportunities across Africa.
Mayor Khan’s engagements in Lagos commenced with participation in a panel discussion at the Bridging Borders: How London and Lagos Can Shape the Future of Global Tech event, where he highlighted how London and Lagos can jointly shape the future of global innovation and encouraged Nigerian tech businesses to invest in London.
He also attended the Lagos Canvas Reception, a celebration of Nigeria’s flourishing creative sector, which he co-hosted with Mo Abudu at the Ebony Life Place.
The reception celebrated the status of Lagos and London as cultural and creative industry powerhouses and looked to encourage even greater ties between the creative industry ecosystems in both cities.
From the arts to fashion, music, and film, the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) is central to expanding trade and unlocking new opportunities in the creative economy.
Mr Khan will continue his historic trade mission with stops in Accra, Johannesburg and Cape Town to seek investment, innovation, and cultural exchange as well as strengthen ties with countries across the African continent for economic growth.
On his part, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter, said, “The Mayor of London’s visit underscores the UK Government’s commitment to strengthening economic and cultural ties with Nigeria. From trade to fintech and fashion, our collaboration is driving innovation and growth.
“Through the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership, we’re committed to unlocking new opportunities that benefit both our economies, and this visit is a powerful step forward in that journey of inclusive growth.”
The UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury, said, “Sir Sadiq’s visit marks an exciting moment for the UK’s relationship with countries across Africa and is a strong demonstration of our commitment to deepening our ties with the continent.
“Strengthening our trade, investment, and cultural ties is not only vital for shared economic growth, but also for fostering long-term partnerships that are rooted in respect and open up opportunities for all.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has shut down ShellPlux and TMDK Terminals, both located in the Ijegun-Egba area of Lagos for non-implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
The enforcement action followed persistent non-compliance by the facilities with the provisions of the ISPS Code, despite several formal warnings.
The move aligns with global best practices and is in accordance with Section 79(f) of the ISPS Code Implementation Regulations (2014), which mandates the closure of any facility that remains in violation for over three calendar months, the agency said.
Speaking on the development, the Director General of NIMASA, Mr Dayo Mobereola, emphasised the agency’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain.
“In wielding the big stick, we acted only as a last resort. Our primary goal is to enforce safety and security practices across Nigerian ports and jetties. At a time when we are collaborating with the United States Coast Guard to lift the conditions of entry on vessels from Nigeria, we cannot afford lapses that jeopardise our progress,” he said.
Mr Mobereola added that the facilities would be reopened once all compliance requirements are satisfactorily met, acknowledging their important role in service delivery and trade facilitation.
“Our Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, is committed to enhanced sustainable trade facilitation for the maritime sector in a safe and conducive environment,” he added.
The ISPS Code, an amendment to the SOLAS Convention, was developed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to enhance maritime and port security, particularly for facilities engaged in international trade.
He reiterated that the agency will continue to ensure that infractors are punished, until there is adequate change in culture that will help drive the sector forward.
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